Artist: Freetime
Title: Lamps, Clocks and Towers
Cat Number: SLAMCD334
Label, Year Released: SLAM Productions, 2020
Format: CD & all digital platforms
Barcode: 5028386715825
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2019 live recording of George Haslam’s Freetime Quartet, featuring George Haslam (tarogato), Aida Mujačič; (piano and voice), Jozef Láska (bass) and Steve Hubback (percussion).
The original Freetime Quartet – comprising Swetja, Josef Láska, Petr Zimak and George Haslam – was busy in Prague at the turn of the century and they recorded one album ‘2002-2004’ (SLAMCD320), a collection of live recordings by the quartet with special guests.
The present group, although still based in Prague comprises musicians from Bosnia, Slovakia, Wales and England which came into being at the Free Jazz Festival in Prague in 2013 performing to a full house. Since then they have performed many concerts and tours in the Czech Republic in very different venues and festivals.
They continue to evolve through improvisations that embrace and explore elements of folk, rock, jazz and contemporary music with their own identity and energy. This album introduces the new group recorded live in the legendary Absintový Klub in Ostrava, offering a fine example of Freetime‘s creativity.
George Haslam: tarogato
Aida Mujačič: piano and voice
Jozef Láska: double bass and bass guitar
Steve Hubback: percussion
“Here We Go has a sprawling, sombre, spirit/free jazz flow or vibe. Mujacic is playing some sort of electric piano (Wurlitzer?) which has a most charming sound. The music has a quaint, older sound, somehow folk-themed yet free as well. Better known as a metal sculptor, drummer Steve Hubback plays mostly with mallets on his drum set and sounds superb, organic, ritualistic rhythms with a steam of simmering electric piano, acoustic bass and Haslam’s taragato snaking its way through dream-like flow…what I liked most about it was the overall dreamy vibe that flows throughout and the thoughtful low-key interaction between all four musicians.” – Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery
“Slam Records continues to create new sounds and dimensions…A mix of folk tales, folk tones and walks through narrow lanes.” – George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly
Live recording at Absintový Klub Ostrava, 18th June 2019
Recorded and mixed by Jozef Láska
All music composed by Haslam, Mujačič; Láska and Hubback
Mastered for digital release by Miloš Latislav, March 2023